The major challenge for the technology suppliers has been with technologies, which are sized for higher capacities; but when the plants have to be operated at reduced capacities (due to market conditions), they are expected to maintain the same efficiency parameters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mandated affordable housing for all (read slum-residents, lower-income group and middle-class income group beneficiaries, who would be provided subsidised homes and interest subsidies to place homes at reasonable market values) in India as target for achievement between June 2015 and 2022.

Urbanisation is central to a country’s economy – and in India, the urbanisation rate corresponds to 60 per cent of the country’s GDP. For smoother transformation of a developing nation like India, the need of the hour is to manage the process of urbanisation.

Industrial safety standards appear to be falling in the country, much like the recently reported instant death of contracted labour on November 25, 2017, at one of the several ongoing Mumbai Metro rail projects at Goregaon.

Life is the invaluable gift given to us. For centuries, we survived on instinct and many of our forefathers perished as instinct is not always right and even if it is right, it is many times too late to react.

Cement and RMC are industrial activities that are equally vulnerable to any lapses that may occur in any other industrial activity. The cover story focuses on some of the past workplace incidents that are significant.